Product management display system

ABSTRACT

An integrated “T” assembly ( 500 ) combines into a single integrated assembly, a track portion along both sides of a divider ( 504 ). The T assembly may have a wide-base portion ( 518 ), which may include a spring-urged-pusher track, on one side of the divider and a narrow-base portion ( 520 ) on the opposite side of the divider. An offset pusher ( 700 ) may have an upper portion that is offset, via an angled offset portion, from a lower portion of the pusher. Additional supporting bases, any of which may include spring-urged-pusher tracks and/or a spring-urged pusher, may be used under a wide product. Left and right side finisher ( 600 ) components may be paired with T assemblies near the sides of a merchandise-display shelf. The T assembly, base, and/or end finishers may be coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groove arrangement and/or a non-slidable engagement, such as mating teeth.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional U.S. ApplicationSerial No. 60/291,732, filed May 17, 2001, entitled Product ManagementDisplay System.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a system for displaying, pushing, anddividing merchandise on merchandise-display shelves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is desirable to have merchandise on a shelf situated towardthe front of the shelf so that the merchandise is visible and accessibleto shoppers. Thus, as merchandise is removed from a shelf, it may beadvantageous to push the remaining merchandise toward the front of theshelf. It may also be desirable to include dividing panels, alsoreferred to as dividers, to separate merchandise into rows on a displayshelf.

[0004] Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,720 (“the '720 patent”)discloses a product management display system that may be used fordividing and pushing displayed merchandise.

[0005] DE 299-02,688 U1 discloses a merchandise display system in whicha base-and-divider assembly is constructed as two separate units thatneed to be connected to each other before being used. When the system ofD1 is used with products having different sizes, product slider guides,also referred to herein as pusher tracks, of various widths need to beused to accommodate the different sizes of the products.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,738 discloses a merchandise display systemwith a pusher track that has an integrated divider wall on one side ofthe pusher track. Like the system disclosed by DE 299-02,689 U1, pushertracks having different widths must be used to accommodate products ofdifferent sizes.

[0007] Referring to FIG. 1 of the '720 patent, various components, suchas pusher end device 150, pusher divider 152, and pusher 154 mounted onbases 166, 212, and 232, respectively, are disclosed for mounting ontoeither shelf frame 25 or standard dealer shelf 40. The pusher end device150, the pusher divider 152, and the pusher 154, which are mounted tobases 166, 212, and 232, of FIG. 1 of the '720 patent were designed withultimate flexibility in mind. This flexibility allows these componentsto be assembled and used in many different ways depending on theparticular product to be displayed. This presents store personnel withpotentially confusing choices, which may lead to frustration, wastedtime, and incorrectly installed parts. Three pusher components, namely,a fill-width track, which can accept the pushing device, a divider, anda narrow track, are typically used together more often than othercombinations of components. Therefore, a component that combines thesedevices into a single integrated assembly would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An integrated “T” assembly, also referred to as abase-and-divider assembly, in accordance with an illustrative embodimentof the invention combines into a single integrated assembly, afull-width track, a divider, and a narrow trace A narrow and strongend-finisher piece may be used to provide a second divider-likepartition and, optionally a wide or narrow track, for pairing with a Tassembly's narrow-track or wide-track portion near an end of either sideof a shelf.

[0009] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, aspring-urged offset pusher may have an upper portion that is offset, viaan angled offset portion, from a lower portion of the pusher. The upperoffset portion may advantageously extend farther out toward the centerof various products to be displayed. Such an offset pusher may allow forusing a minimal number of components while still pushing productsrelatively near to their centers, having the advantage of pushing themsmoothly with less binding. When displaying a wide product, one or moresupporting tracks, any of which may have a pusher, may be used under theproduct

[0010] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, aT assembly and/or a full track may be coupled to a front rail via acomplimentary tongue and groove arrangement. Any of the componentshaving a divider panel, such as a T assembly, an end finisher, and afull-width track, may also contain any of various engagement mechanismsfor non-slidably engaging with a front rail's corresponding engagementmechanism. For instance, teeth on a base may engage corresponding teethon the front rail. Teeth of this type advantageously allow a T assembly,full-width track, and/or end finishers with corresponding teeth to belocated at positions virtually continuously along the front rail and mayprevent the components from being moved unintentionally from theirintended positions during normal shopping activity and shelfre-stocking.

[0011] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, aT assembly may include a tear-off line and a break-off line. Such atear-off line and break-off line combination may be used to advantage toproduce one part that may be used for shelves having different depths,such as either 16 inches or 10 inches.

[0012] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, apusher track may include a depression, which may be used whilere-stocking merchandise to hold a pusher near the back of a frill-widthtrack or T assembly. To use the depression to hold a pusher at the backof the track, a person may move the pusher back to the depression andmay tilt the top of the pusher toward the front of the track.Merchandise may be re-stocked without having to manually hold the pusherout of the way. To remove the pusher from the depression, the pusher maybe pushed toward the back of the track, the pusher will then return toan upright position and move along the track in its usual way.

[0013] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention,front edges of the respective surfaces that the pusher travels along mayautomatically engage a bent portion of the pusher's coiled spring whenthe pusher is inserted onto the front of the track.

[0014] Additional features and advantages of the invention will beapparent upon reviewing the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 depicts an integrated “T” assembly, also referred to as abase-and-divider assembly, in accordance with an illustrative embodimentof the invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 depicts a right end component in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows an offset pusher in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a full-width track, also referred to as a base, whichmay be used with or without a pusher, in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 5 is perspective view of the bottom of a T assembly inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a front rail in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 7 is an enlarged oblique side view of the front rail of FIG.7 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 8 depicts a full-width track with a pusher between two Tassemblies in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

[0023]FIG. 9, is an enlarged view of the rear portion of the bottom of aT assembly in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention.

[0024]FIG. 10, depicts products of different sizes on multiple Tassemblies.

[0025]FIG. 11 depicts an integrated end component in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0026]FIG. 12 is a partial side view of a cross-section of a bent end ofa pusher's coiled spring engaging the front edge of a pusher track inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027]FIG. 1 depicts an integrated “T” assembly 500 in accordance withan illustrative embodiment of the invention. The “T” refers to theappearance of the T assembly 500 as viewed in the direction of arrow 502in FIG. 5. T assembly 500 would actually look like an upside-down (andoff-center) T, but for the sake of brevity, it is referred to simply asa T assembly. The T assembly may also be referred to as abase-and-divider assembly. The T assembly essentially combines into asingle assembly, a first track, a divider, and a second track. Inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the dividerportion 504, the first portion 518 of the base, and the second portionof the base 520 may be manufactured as a single integrated component.

[0028] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 1, a divider 504 may divide the base of the T assembly 500into a first portion 518 and a second portion 520. The first portion 518of the base may be referred to as a wide portion of the base and thesecond portion 520 may be referred to as a narrow portion 520 of thebase 500. As will be apparent any suitable ratio of widths may be chosenfor the first and second portions of the base. For instance, the divider504 may bisect the base such that the base's first and second portionsare of a substantially equal width.

[0029] T assembly 500 may have a relatively thick and rigid divider 504to prevent deflection that might occur when pushing round or triangularobjects. Deflection of this type could cause those objects to slip byone another or not to push well in general. In FIG. 1, rigid divider 504includes two parts, 514-1 and 514-2, which are described below.

[0030] At either end of a shelf using the pusher components, a narrowand strong end-finisher component is desirable. Referring to FIG. 2, aright-end component 600 may be fastened to a shelf near the right-handside of the shelf. The right-end component's divider 608 may act theright-most divider on the shelf. The right-end component 600 may beoperatively coupled to a shelf by inserting pegs 604 and 606 throughcorresponding holes in a shelf. One or more fasteners, such as plasticpush-rivets, may be used through holes 602-1 through 602-4, andcorresponding holes in a shelf, to securely fasten the right-endcomponent to the shelf.

[0031] The right-end component shown in FIG. 2 is intended to be placedat a fixed location near the right side of a shelf's top surface.Referring to FIG. 11, a left-end component 1500 may be similar to a Tassembly 500 except that, for the left-end component 1500 the portion ofthe T assembly's base to the left of the divider is omitted.Accordingly, the left-end component 15, may include a divider 504 and abase portion 518. Because the right-end component is intended to have afixed location and the other components may have adjustable positionsalong a rail near the front of a shelf, components may be placed ontothe shelf and the front rail from right to left to allow for maximumflexibility in adjusting the distances between the components.

[0032] The width of many products, such as deodorants, analgesics,antihistamines, would allow a minimum number of pusher and basecomponents to be used, spaced laterally apart from each other along ashelf, but the pushers may undesirably end up sufficiently off-centersuch that the products do not get pushed well. For instance, referringto FIG. 10, multiple T assemblies 500-1 through 500-3 are shownoperatively coupled to a shelf 1401 via a front rail. A relativelynarrow product 1400 is shown being supported by the wide portion 518-2of the base of T assembly 500-2 and by the narrow portion 520-3 of the Tassembly 500-3. T assemblies 500-2 and 500-3 are positioned relativelyclose to each other because product 1400 is relatively narrow. Product1402, however, is relatively wide. T assembly 500-1, therefore, isspaced relatively far away from T assembly 500-2. The product 1402 issupported by the narrow portion 520-2 of the base of the T assembly500-2 and the wide portion 518-1 of the base of the T assembly 500-1.Because the pusher track and pusher of the T assembly 500-1 are locatedrelatively close to the divider 504-1 of T assembly 500-1, an offsetpusher, such as the offset pusher 700 (FIG. 3) may be used so that theoffset portion 702 may be positioned closer to the center of arelatively wide product, such as product 1402. Offset pusher 700 has anupper portion 702 that is offset, via an offset portion 704, from alower portion 706 of the pusher 700. Upper offset portion 702advantageously extends farther out toward the center of various productsto be displayed. The offset pusher allows for using a minimal number ofcomponents while still pushing products relatively near to theircenters.

[0033] Occasionally a product is too wide to use only T assemblies 500on either side of the product. Under these circumstances, one or moresupporting tracks may be used under the product. In addition, a productmay be unusually dense and/or heavy such that the product requiresanother track with an additional pusher to move the product. Under thesecircumstances, a full-width track, such as full-width track 800, shownin FIG. 4 and also referred to as a base, may be used either with orwithout a pusher 700.

[0034] For instance, FIG. 8 depicts a full-width track 800 with a pusher700-3 between two T assemblies 500-2 and 5003 with pushers 700-2 and700-4 to the left and right sides, respectively, of the full-width track800.

[0035] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention,any of the components, which have a divider and/or a pusher track, maybe coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groovearrangement as disclosed in the 720 patent. The T assembly 500 and fulltrack 800 may non-slidably engage each other. For instance, teeth 900,shown in FIG. 5, may engage a corresponding non-slidable engagementdetail in a front rail, such as front rail 1000 shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7is an enlarged oblique side view of the front rail 1000, viewed from thedirection indicated by arrow 1002 in FIG. 6. Teeth 1100 allow a Tassembly 500, full-width track 800, and/or a left-end component withcorresponding teeth to be located at virtually continuous positionsalong the front rail. The mating teeth may be relatively thin andclosely spaced to allow for precise placement of pusher-trackcomponents. The teeth advantageously prevent the components from beingunintentionally moved from their intended positions during normalshopping activity and shelf re-stocking.

[0036] As will be apparent, other ways of positively engaging T assembly500, full-width track 800, and/or a left-end component with the frontrail may also be used. For instance, serrations on the front rail couldbite into the bottom of the pusher-track components. A compression fitarrangement could be used in which a tongue of the pusher-trackcomponent snaps into the front rail. The front rail could have rubber ina groove that would receive a serrated tongue of a pusher-trackcomponent.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 1, the T assembly 500 may optionallyinclude a tear-off line, such as tear-off line 506, and a break-offline, such as break-off line 510. Such a tear-off line and break-offline combination may be used to advantage to produce one part that maybe used for shelves having different depths, such as either 16 inchesand 10 inches. Tear-off line 506 allows tearing of the verticallyoriented divider pieces 514-1 and 514-2 as a first operation. Thistearing operation may then be followed by a breaking operation toseparate track piece 516-1 from track piece 516-2. The combination ofthe tear-off line and the break-off line facilitates removal of the rearportion of the T assembly 500. As will be apparent, a full-width trackand/or a right-end finisher may also optionally include a break-off lineanalogous to the break-off line 510.

[0038] After removing the rear portion of the T assembly 500 or anyother base that may accept a pusher 700, the pusher 700 may be preventedfrom sliding out of the back of the pusher track by inserting a pin intohole 508. An exemplary pin 1300 is shown molded into the bottom rearportion of a base in FIG. 9.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 4, a depression 802 is shown. The depression802 may be used, while re-stocking merchandise, to hold a pusher 700near the back of a track 800 or a T assembly 500. To use the depression802 to hold a pusher 700 at the back of the track 800, a person may movethe pusher 700 back to the depression 802 and may tilt the top of thepusher 700 toward the front of the track 800, for instance, in adirection opposite of arrow 502 in FIG. 1. The depression 802 then holdsthe pusher 700 so that merchandise may be re-stocked without having tomanually hold the pusher out of the way while placing the merchandise onthe track surface. To remove the pusher 700 from the depression 802, thepusher may be pushed toward the back of the track 800, the pusher willthen return to an upright position and move along the track 800 in itsusual way.

[0040] Front edges 804-1 and 804-2 of the respective surfaces that thepusher travels along may automatically engage a bent portion of thepusher's coiled spring when the pusher is inserted onto the front of thetrack 800. FIG. 12 is a partial side view of a cross-section of a bentend of a spring 806 engaging the front edge 804-1 of the track 800.

[0041]FIG. 12 also shows a complimentary tongue and groove engagementbetween a component 1600, which includes a pusher track, and a frontrail 1602 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of theinvention. A tongue 1604 of the component 1600 engages a groove 1606 ofthe front rail 1602, and a tongue 1608 of the front rail 1602 engage agroove 1610 in the component.

[0042] While the invention has been described with respect to specificexamples including presently preferred modes of carrying out theinvention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there arenumerous variations and permutations of the above described systems andtechniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A merchandise-display system, comprising: an integratedbase-and-divider assembly (500) for supporting displayed merchandise,wherein the base-and-divider assembly includes a base portion adaptedfor operative coupling to a shelf, and a divider portion (504) fordividing displayed merchandise into rows, wherein the divider portionprotrudes from the base such that the divider portion separates the baseportion into a first portion (518) having a pusher track (800) and asecond portion (520); and a spring-urged pusher (700) in the pushertrack for pushing merchandise along the first portion toward the frontof the shelf.
 2. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein thebase portion and the divider portion have respective removable breakawayportions (516-2 and 514-2) for reducing a length of the base portion anda length of the divider portion.
 3. The merchandise-display system ofclaim 1, wherein, with the breakaway portion of the base portionremoved, a peg (1300) inserted into a hole (508) near the back of thefirst portion prevents the pusher from sliding off the back of thepusher track.
 4. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein afront edge (804) of the pusher track automatically engages a bentportion of a coiled spring (806) of the pusher as the pusher is insertedonto the front of the pusher track.
 5. The merchandise-display system ofclaim 1, wherein the pusher track includes a depression (802) forholding the pusher near the back of the track in a shelf-stockingposition.
 6. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein thepusher includes an offset portion (702) positioned farther away from thedivider portion than the distance between the divider portion and thepusher track.
 7. The merchandise-display system of claim 6, wherein theoffset portion is an upper portion of the pusher that is offset from alower portion of the pusher by an angled offset portion (704).
 8. Themerchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of thebase portion of the base-and-divider assembly is wider than the secondportion of the base portion of the base-and-divider assembly.
 9. Themerchandise-display system of claim 1, ether comprising: an integratedend component (600, 1500) having a base portion (610, 518) and a dividerportion (608, 504), wherein the divider portion of the end component,the divider portion of the base-and-divider assembly, and the pushercooperate to contain merchandise for display.
 10. Themerchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the base portion of theend component supports a side of the first row of displayed merchandise(1400) opposite of the at least one side of the first row of displayedmerchandise that is supported by the fit portion of the base-and-dividerassembly.
 11. The merchandise-display system of claim 8, furthercomprising: a base adapted for operative coupling to the shelf (1401),wherein the base includes a pusher track (800).
 12. Themerchandise-display system of claim 10, further comprising: aspring-urged pusher in the pusher track of the base.
 13. Themerchandise-display system of claim 1, further comprising: a baseadapted for operative coupling to the shelf (1401), wherein the baseincludes a pusher track (800).
 14. The merchandise-display system ofclaim 12, further comprising: a spring-urged pusher in the pusher trackof the base.
 15. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein thebase-and-divider assembly is non-slidably engaged with a front rail(1000) that extends along and is affixed to a front portion of theshelf.
 16. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, furthercomprising: gear teeth-like projections (900) near the front of a bottomsurface of the base-and-divider assembly engaged with gear teeth-likeprojections (1100) on an upwardly facing surface of the front rail. 17.The merchandise-display system of claim 1, further comprising anintegrated end component (1500), which includes a base portion (518)integrated with a divider portion (504), wherein the base portion of theend component is adapted for operative coupling to the shelf, andwherein the divider portion of the end component, the divider portion ofthe base-and-divider assembly, and a pusher in a pusher-track of the endcomponent cooperate to contain merchandise for display.
 18. Themerchandise-display system of claim 16, wherein the base portion of theend component supports a side of the second row of displayed merchandise(1402) opposite of the at least one side of the second row of displayedmerchandise that is supported by the second portion of thebase-and-divider assembly.
 19. The merchandise-display system of claim16, further comprising: a second integrated base-and-divider assembly(500-1) having an offset pusher and adapted for operative coupling to ashelf, wherein the second base portion (520-2) of the base-and-dividerassembly (500-2) supports a first side of a displayed product (1402) anda first base portion (518-1) of the second base-and-divider assemblysupports a side, which is opposite from the first side, of the product.20. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the base portionis operatively coupled to a shelf (1401) via a front rail (1000). 21.The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the base portion isoperatively coupled to a shelf (1401) via a rail (1000) that is affixedto the shelf.